London’s Royal Festival Hall sparkled on Sunday evening as the British Academy Film Awards celebrated the year’s finest cinematic achievements. Broadcast live at 7 p.m. on BBC One and streamed via BBC iPlayer in the UK, the ceremony also reached audiences in the United States through E! and BritBox, cementing its status as one of the most anticipated nights in the global film calendar.
While London Fashion Week runs concurrently, tonight’s spotlight shifted from the runway to the red carpet, where style and glamour were on full display. Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio, Irish actor Cillian Murphy with his wife, and Oscar winner Emma Stone arrived to enthusiastic applause. French-American heartthrob Timothée Chalamet, rising star Paul Mescal, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, and Indian actress Alia Bhatt who also presented an award were among the most photographed. Royal guests Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, added a regal touch, greeting stars and admiring the evening’s couture ensembles.
The awards themselves highlighted both mainstream and international achievements.
Sentimental Value, the first Norwegian non-English language film to win a BAFTA, received its historic accolade from Alia Bhatt, marking a milestone for global cinema.
Acting honours went to Sean Penn, who took home Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, and Wunmi Mosaku, awarded Best Supporting Actress for Sinners.
Behind-the-scenes talent was celebrated as well: Frankenstein won Best Production Design and Best Makeup & Hair, F1 earned Best Sound, and Avatar: Fire and Ash secured Best Special Visual Effects, showcasing the continued evolution of cinematic innovation.
Family and short-form storytelling also received recognition. Boong was named Best Children’s & Family Film,
Mr Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary, This Is Endometriosis took Best British Short Film, and Two Black Boys in Paradise secured Best British Short Animation.
And Zootopia 2 for the best animated film.
From the glittering red carpet to historic wins on stage, the 2026 BAFTAs celebrated the global reach of storytelling, the creativity of filmmakers, and the enduring magic of cinema proving that tonight, the world’s most glamorous fashion and film stars shared the same stage, united in artistry and style.
